Quick answer: House of Read is a café, patisserie and fine-food shop at 4 Parliament Street in Dublin, in what is billed as the city’s oldest shop. Come for coffee, pastries and handmade chocolates, and stay to look at the 18th-century counters and cabinets of the old Read’s cutlers. It’s a short walk from Temple Bar and across the river from Capel Street.
Despite the name, there are no books here. The “Read” is the Read family, cutlers and sword makers who sold knives, swords and surgical instruments in this part of the city for more than two centuries. The shop closed in 1997, sat derelict for years, and reopened as House of Read in March 2022 after a long and careful restoration.
The story of Read’s cutlers
The business dates back to around 1670, when it began on Blind Quay (now Exchange Street Lower) before moving to Crane Lane. When the Wide Streets Commissioners laid out Parliament Street in the 1760s as a grand approach from the river to Dublin Castle, the Reads opened a new shop facing the street, built onto their older premises on Crane Lane.
Arthur Guinness’s mother was Elizabeth Read, which is why the shop is often called the spiritual home of the Guinness family in Dublin. In 1821 Thomas Read & Co was granted a royal warrant to supply cutlery and surgical instruments, and the royal arms are still displayed inside. The building was repaired after bomb, bullet and fire damage in the Civil War, and the shop kept trading until 1997.
Swords under the floorboards
Businessman Clem Kenny bought the derelict building in 2011 and restored it with Kelly & Cogan Architects. The work won the Diaphoros Prize from the Georgian Group in 2017.
The restoration turned up old unsold stock in the basement, mostly medical instruments along with cutlery and other goods. More than 800 of them now make up the Read’s Collection at the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, which Kenny donated in 2024.
What to look for inside
- The shop fittings: counter tops and swan-neck pediment display cabinets from the 1760s, one of the most complete shop interiors of the period left in Dublin.
- The royal arms from the 1821 royal warrant.
- The house emblem: an elephant carrying a three-turreted castle, with crossed swords for the cutlers’ trade, which now appears on the shop’s own tea sets.
- The building itself: one of the most intact 18th-century houses on Parliament Street, inside and out.
What to order and buy
House of Read brews coffee and tea on site and serves hot chocolate, fresh pastries, éclairs, chocolates and macarons, all available to take away or wrap as a gift. The shelves carry jams, marmalades and chutneys, plus china, silver plate tableware (new and vintage) and candles. The business also runs its own working silversmith’s shop.
It’s a good stop for a gift that isn’t a souvenir-shop keyring, especially in the run-up to Christmas. For more ideas, see our Christmas markets in Dublin guide.
Workshops and room hire
The shop runs hands-on classes and talks of up to about two hours, including chocolate truffle making, perfumery and a session on the history of Irish silver. Rooms in the building can be hired for private meetings and small events. Email info@houseofread.ie to ask about dates.
Know before you go
- Address: 4 Parliament Street, Dublin 2, D02 DP28 (map)
- Getting there: buses stop on Parliament Street; Luas Red Line to Jervis (about 7 minutes’ walk across Grattan Bridge) or Green Line to Trinity or Westmoreland
- Nearby: Temple Bar, Capel Street, City Hall, Dublin Castle, Christ Church Cathedral
- Contact: info@houseofread.ie · houseofread.ie · Instagram @houseofread.ie
Make a morning of it
Parliament Street runs straight up to City Hall and Dublin Castle, so House of Read fits easily into a morning in the old city. To follow the Guinness thread, the Guinness Storehouse is about 20 minutes’ walk west. Our 3 days in Dublin itinerary has more ideas nearby. Opening hours change, so check with the shop before you go.
House of Read FAQs
Where is House of Read in Dublin?
House of Read is at 4 Parliament Street, Dublin 2, D02 DP28, between Grattan Bridge and City Hall. The building runs back to Crane Lane.
Is House of Read a bookshop?
No. The name comes from the Read family of cutlers and sword makers who traded here as Thomas Read & Co. Today House of Read is a café, patisserie and fine-food and tableware shop.
Why is it called Dublin’s oldest shop?
The Read family cutlery business dates back to around 1670, and the Parliament Street shop opened in the 1760s. It traded until 1997 and reopened as House of Read in March 2022 after a full restoration.
What is the Guinness connection?
Arthur Guinness’s mother was Elizabeth Read, which is why the shop is often linked to the Guinness story.
Does House of Read run workshops?
Yes. House of Read runs hands-on classes and talks, including chocolate truffle making, perfumery and the history of Irish silver. Check with the shop for current dates and prices.
Can you hire a room at House of Read?
Yes. Rooms in the building can be hired for private meetings and small events. Email info@houseofread.ie to ask.
